■ GERMANY
Bremen in talks with Allofs
Werder Bremen have called an emergency meeting in hopes of convincing sought-after general manager Klaus Allofs to stay at the club. The 51-year-old Allofs has been instrumental in turning the small northern club into a top team, but he alarmed Bremen by saying on Monday that he has received several offers from other clubs. Reports say they include top rivals Bayern Munich. "I cannot confirm that I will stay in Bremen. First we have to talk with each other," Allofs said. The special meeting will be held today by the club's supervisory board, which is expected to offer a sizable pay increase offer to Allofs, whose contract runs out in 2009. "We absolutely want to keep working with Allofs, even if it is the supervisory board that wraps up the contract, not the club's management," club chairman Juergen Born said on Thursday. Allofs, who took over in 1999, forms a highly regarded team with coach Thomas Schaaf. Bremen captured the Bundesliga title in 2003-2004 and have finished in the top three the past four years, making them a regular in the Champions League. Bremen's soaring popularity has threatened to eclipse Bayern in Germany.
■ ROMANIA
Teixeira joins Pandurii
Romanian club Pandurii Targu Jiu are signing a new coach and 11 players from Portugal in a desperate bid to stay in the first division. "Joaquim Teixeira agreed a two-and-a-half year deal and his main task is to avoid relegation," Pandurii Targu Jiu president Marin Condescu told reporters. Condescu said Teixeira's compatriots would be hired by Jan. 7, when the new squad will begin training for the re-start of the Romanian season in late February following a winter break. Teixeira, Pandurii's third boss this season, was on the coaching staff with Porto from 1996-1998 and the Portugal national side from 2000-2002. Pandurii, who are second from bottom, put nine players on the transfer list earlier this month.
■ BRAZIL
Gavilan deal called off
Flamengo will not sign Paraguay midfielder Diego Gavilan because he failed a physical exam on Thursday. "Flamengo's medical department recommended the club not to hire Gavilan," Flamengo said in a brief statement on their Web site. The club did not immediately release details on what type of injury prompted the cancellation. The announcement was made just moments before the 27-year-old Gavilan was to be officially introduced to fans. Flamengo had reached a one-year deal with the defender last week. A former Newcastle United and Udinese player, Gavilan played this season for Brazilian club Gremio. He is serving a 120-day suspension for punching Palmeiras midfielder Jorge Valdivia in the back during a Brazilian league match. The suspension will end in February, but the player has appealed and could be allowed to play earlier.
■ BELGIUM
Mouscron appoint Scifo
Enzo Scifo was hired as coach of Belgian club Excelsior Mouscron on Thursday. Scifo, 41, had been out of soccer for two years. As a player, the midfield playmaker helped Belgium reach the semi-finals at the 1986 World Cup -- the country's best result ever. After a playing career spent at Anderlecht, Italian clubs Inter Milan and Torino, and French teams Bordeaux and Auxerre, Scifo briefly coached Sporting Charleroi. "I had not expected a return like this," Scifo said. Mouscron fired their coach 10 days ago after disappointing results.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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